Packing support



R. s'. BEACH PACKING SUPPORT Filed JunsQ 1937 lNvENTo'R 1 RAYMOND 5.BEACH ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE PACKINGSUPPORT Application June 30, 1937, Serial No. 151,199

17 Claims.

This invention relates more particularly to the packing of machines forshipment, one object being to improve the packing devices heretofore inuse, to the end that machines or other structures embodying delicateconstructions and finely set adjustments, may withstand the very severeshocks and jars to which the containers are subjected as an inevitableincident to their transportation, without damage to the machines orparts thereof, and without injury to or displacement of the adjustments.

The improvement is illustrated in. connection with the packing oftypewriting machines, but it is not confined in its application to suchmachines.

The ever-increasing demand by the public for additional features toadapt typewriting machines to widening elds of usefulness has resultedin the production of a mechanism much more delicate in structure thanthose of some years ago, and one requiring the setting and maintenanceof fine adjustment, more readily effected during the building of themachines than afterward.

,For these and other reasons, it has become of great importance that themachines reach the customers in the same tuned condition in which theyleave the factory.

In packing these machines for shipment, it is customary to tiel andchock the movable parts thereof against movement, after which themachine was formerly fastened at its corners to a pair of parallel metalstraps or cleats extending from front to rear of the machine, andsupported on coiled springs, which cleats were held in place byfastening means, as screws, passing through the top of the container,nuts and washers being threaded on the ends of the screws and operatingto press the cleats tightly against the coiled springs to retain theparts assembled.

The top of the box is then secured in place with the machine dependingwithin the box.

This form of packing served for many years with the less delicatelyconstructed and adjusted machines hitherto produced, but with the adventof the noiseless and power-driven typewriting machines, it was foundthat the severe jolts and jars to which the boxed machines weresubjected in shipment, when dropped from the tail boards of freight andexpress wagons,'slid down steeply inclined chutes in unloading cargovessels, and dropped from the doors` of freight cars, often resulted inbroken frames, and almost invariably disarranged the adjustments, tosuch an extent as to require re-adjustment.

The present improvement is designed to obviate the foregoing troublesdue to rough handling during transportation, by providing a threapoint,flexible, cushioned suspension for the machine during transit, arrangedin such relation, as to wholly absorb the lighter shocks and jarswithout transmitting them to the machine, and which will accommodateitself, by distortion, to the severe shocks and jars to materiallylessen the severity of the jolts communicated to the machine.

Boxes containing machines packed according to my improvement have beengiven the most severe treatment received in shipping between variouspoints in this country, and abroad, without damage to the machines.

Another object is to provide a packing means wherein any stresses orstrains which may be transmitted unavoidably to the packed machines, areapplied thereto in directions in which the machine is structurallybraced to thus avoid deranging the adjustments, as well as reducing thepossibility of actual breakage to a minimum.

To the foregoing and other ends, the improvement includes certain novelfeatures and combinations of parts, all of which will be more fullyreferred to hereinafter and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing,

Fig. l is a perspective view of my improvement applied to the innersurface of the base of a box, the outline of the box being shown in dotand dash lines,

Fig. 2 is a detail vertical sectional View through one of the retainingfastenings for the rear cleat or skid; and

Fig. 3 is` a fragmentary front view, partly in section, of a retainingfastening for the front cleat or skid, and showing one means of securingthe machine or other article to the pivoted yoke.

For convenience, the packing means is secured in place, and the machinefastened thereto, before the base is applied to the box or container,and Fig. l shows the parts in the positions in which they are assembled.

The base I0 of the usually rectangular container may -be of any suitableconstruction, that shown being formed of boards of the required lengths,mortised together at their adjacent side edges and reinforced bybattens. Il lying transversely of, and nailed or otherwise fastened tothe inner faces of the boards.

Properly spaced holes I2 are bored through the base thus formed, in linewith the battens, the holes being counterbored on their outer ends,

(Fig. 2). Four such holes are formed in the present embodiment of theimprovement, to accommodate a well-known form of cup washer I3, theflanged outer ends of which seat in the counterbores while the hollowbody portions are centered in the holes I2.

Holes I4 of less diameter than the holes I2. are bored in the battensII, concentric to the holes I2, and in line with the holes in the cupWashers I3.

Threaded fastening means, as bolts I6` inserted through the openings inthe washers I3, pass through the holes I4 in the battens II and extendsome distance beyond.

Heretofore, it has been customary to place heavy coiled springs aboutthe projecting ends of the bolts I6 to support suitably perforated,rigid cleats extending parallel with the sides of the machine, throughthe perforations in which cleats the bolts projected. When the nuts werescrewed down on the threaded ends of the bolts, they drew the heads ofthe bolts against the cup washers, and held the cleats in place. Thecoiled springs were intended to absorb vertical shocks or jars, in onedirection only, the machine being firmly fastened at four points, two infront and two in the rear, on opposite sides, to the respective parallelright and left cleats, which, therefore, afforded a four pointsuspension.

I have found the above combination unsuited to present-day requirements,one objection being that the fore-and-aft arrangement of the cleatsenables the transmission of such shocks and jars as were not absorbed bythe coiled springs, directly to the frame of the machine in suchdirection as to Wrack and strain the frame, which very often resulted inbreakage or other damage to the machine.

Another objection to the former packing arrangement resided in the factthat the machine Was rigidly secured at four points to the cleats sothat any jolts or jars communicated to the cleats were conducteddirectly to the machine which had no movement relatively to the cleats.

This oversight contributed largely to the transmission of damagingvibrations to the machine and its parts.

The rough handling to which the containers and their contents aresubjected in transit may be sustained in any direction, as the boxes mayfall or be struck on any side, top or bottom, and on the twelve corners,and glancing blows may be sustained as well.

In view thereof, to provide means to successfully absorb or eliminatethe transmission of lighter shocks, and minimize and cushion thetransmission of heavier shocks to the contents, it is necessary toconsider the general structure of the article packed in the container.

The working parts of office appliance machines, as typewriting machines,adding machines, cash registers and the like are customarily supportedon rods, shafts and cross-pieces, mounted at their ends in and extendingbetween suitably braced, parallel side frames.

Obviously, transmission of wracking strains to either or both sideframes tends to spread them apart, if the stresses are appliedtransversely of the machine, or if transmitted longitudinally of themachine, the shocks exert a force longitudinally of the side frames.

Due to the multiplicity of cross bracing members, the side frames resistmovement endwise or longitudinally relatively to each other, but even aslight relative movement of the side frames away from each other willdisarrange the ner adjustments of the parts.

Therefore, one feature of this invention is the disposition of thecleats or skids II transversely beneath the machine, instead oflongitudinally thereof. These cleats I'I are preferably formed ofsuitable lengths of channel iron, each length being apertured near itsopposite ends to t over the Shanks of the bolts I6, and rest on cushionsI 8 conveniently formed of axially apertured cylindrical rubber casingmaterial, which is resilient and flexible without being as expensive asthe coiled springs heretofore used.

These apertured cushioning sections I8 are loosely threaded on theprojecting Shanks of the bolts I6, after which the transverse metalliccleats II are similarly applied to the pairs of front and rear bolts, toextend transversely beneath the article. Shorter lengths of tubularcushioning material I9, are then placed on the protruding ends of thebolts, and all held in place by wing nuts 20 and spring washers 2l, thewing nuts being turned down snugly to place the resilient cushions undersome pressure.

Typewriting machines and adding machines are customarily equipped withcushioned feet held by screws threaded into tapped holes 32 formed inpairs of front and rear bosses 23, (Figs. l and 3), on the lower edgesof the side frames 24 of such machines. When shipping these machines,the cushioned feet are removed. and the machine is positioned on therear cleat so that the tapped holes 32 in the rear bosses 23 registerwith holes 25 drilled in the rear cleat, for the accommodation ofthreaded fastenings 3Q, as shown in Fig.v

3, which firmly secure the rear cleat and the machine together.

The front and rear cleats may be of equal length and similarly drilled,for ease of manufacture, but the front suspension differs from the rearsuspension as follows:

Reference has been made to the former suspension wherein the machineswere rigidly secured at four points to fore-and-aft extending cleats,and that such system did not successively avert the transmission ofsevere shocks to the machine.

As a second important improvement over the former type of packing. Ihave provided a form of floating support for the articles to be shipped,which will enable slight relative movements between the article and itssupport in several directions upon the occasion of very heavy shocksfrom different directions relatively to the position of the article inthe container.

To this end, the tubular resilient casings I8 applied to the two frontbolts I6, and interposed between the front cleat and the battens II areshorter than the cushioning devices I8 applied to the rear bolts,whereby the front and rear cleats of the particular embodiment of theinvention herein illustrated, lie in different horizontal planes.

All cleats are provided with a hole 26 located substantially midway ofthe ends of the cleats, and to those cleats selected for the frontsuspension of the machine there is applied a yokeshaped member 21, of agenerally wide open U-shape, formed by offsetting the central section ofa piece of strap iron or steel. to lie in a plane parallel with theoppositely extended ends of the yoke.

Preferably, the centrally offset section of the yoke rests on a frictionreducing washer 28 interposed between the offset and the front cleat I1Ito A.which Vthe yoke is swivel-connected by a headed stud 29, the shankof which passes .through the yoke and washer and the hole 26 in thecleat, and is rivetted at its free end.

The offset formed in the yoke 2'I is of sucient `depth to compensate forthe shorter cushions I8 threaded on `the `front bolts, so that the free,unsupported ends of the yoke lie in approximately the same plane Vwiththe rear cleat Il.

Fastening means, as screws 3e, (Fig. 3), pass throughelongated holes 3lformed near the ends `,of .the roppositely extended arms of the yoke 21and are threaded into the tapped holes 32 formed in the bosses 23 of theside frames 24 of the machine, washers 33 between the heads of thescrews and the elongated holes 3| affording a bearing surface againstwhich the heads are snugly drawn.

Assuming a machin-e to be supported by these `cleats and yoke in acontainer, it is plain that `ordinary jars and jolts in horizontal andin vertical directions will be absorbed by the resilient cushioning padsI8 and I9 which loosely surround the bolts `IE vand on which pads thecleats or skids are supported.

Thus, with the container inverted, the weight of the article issupported by the cushioning pads I9 and vertical stresses in bothdirections are absorbed by the cushions I8 and I9.

Horizontal stresses delivered against the sides of the container tend toswing the article on the bolts I6, which project loosely through thecover I0 and battens l I, (see Fig. 2), such swinging beingyieldinglyresisted by the bearings of the ends of the cushions I8 against thebattens.

Severe imp-acts and concussions delivered against the corners of thecontainer and tending to twist or collapse the same, are renderedharmless to the contained article by the provision of the swiveled yoke2l which permits a slight yielding amounting to a deformation of thecontainer, relatively to the machine, and thus relieves the wholemachine of the wracking or twisting strain which would otherwise betransmitted thereto.

Furthermore, the free, oppositely extending resilient arms of the yokeare adapted, under the influence of certain shocks and jolts, to springdownwardly and, in so doing, slightly straighten `the yoke with aconsequent outward prolongation of the arms to thereby cushion the shockand jar to the machine, the slots' 3l in the arms permitting a limitedextension of the latter relatively to the fastenings 3U and theframework of the machine.

In instances where the box or container is deformed and also where theyoke is sprung as above explained, the machine and yoke may assumesomewhat skewed positions relatively to the box, until the parts springback to their normal positions.

But should the concussion be so severe as to permanently deform the box,the machine will have been saved from damage.

The yoke 2? is purposely made stronger than the channel cleat I'I, as byforming the yoke of thicker stock, so that upon the occurrence of verysevere shocks which would operate to deform the support for the machine,such deformation will affect the cleat instead of the stronger yoke.

Thus, such deformation in either vertical direction cannot impair theswivel action of the yoke relatively to the cleat.

It is to be understood that while I have shown .my improvement ascomprisinga cleat rigidlylsecure'dto :therear endiof the article to beshipped, and asecond cleat havingfa `swiveled and some- 1what 'resilientor deformable yoke lto which the front end Lof the article lis attachedin such `imanner as topermitmovement Iof the -yoke yrelatively `tothearticleirl-directions at rightzanglesto each other, as well as toturn in opposite directions with the article, vthe positions of therespective cleats may be reversed with relation to the rfrontand `rearendsfof the article, or eachfcleat `may be vprovided with a yoke.

irrespective of the position of Ithe box or `con-- tainer and litscontents `during transportation,

a freely `pivoted `device connected with a second i cleat, to which thearticle is 'secured at points in front of its center. 1

2. The combination with one -wall of a container for articles, of aAcushioned packing for 4such articles, including cleats located onoppositesides of the center of the article; fastening means passingthrough one wall `of the 'container fand through the cleats, near theiropposite ends, to connect the -cleats to the container wall; re-

silient cushioning means encircling the fastening means above and belowthe cleats; means to confine the cleats and cushioning means in snugarrangement on the fastening means; a floating 'resilient shockabsorbing device `secured to one of the cleats for bodily movement inone plane, fand r for flexing in a plane at right angles to its bodilymovement, the article being secured to one of the cleats and `to theshock absorbing device, respectively.

3. In a packing for articles, the combination of a cleat having acushioned support; a resilient shock absorbing device pivotallyconnected to the cleat to enable a relative shift between the cleat andthe article in one plane, the shook absorbing device having arms offsetfrom the cleat and yieldable in a direction at right angles to thefirst-mentioned plane; and means to attach the article to the arms ofthe shock absorbing device, with provisions for the exure of the arms inthe last-mentioned direction relatively to the article.

Li. In a packing for articles, the combination of cushioned supportsextending transversely of the article, to front and to rear of itscenter; and a resilient shock absorbing device interposed between atleast one of said supports and the article; such shock absorbing deviceprovided with offset arms releasably connected for limited movement tothe article to enable relative movement between the arms and the articlein one direction; and means to connect the shock absorbing device andthe cushioned support for bodily movement of the article and the shockabsorbing device relatively to the cushioned support, in a planeparallel with the cushioned support.

5. In a packing for articles to be shipped, the combination of cushionedsupports extending transversely of the article and located on oppositesides or" the center thereof; a resilient shock absorbing deviceswiveled to one of the cushioned supports, and having slotted armsoffset from its support; and means to connect the article at points inspaced relation and on opposite sides of the center thereof to one ofthe cushioned supports, and to the offset arms, the connecting meanspassing through the slots in the arms.

6. In a packing for articles to be shipped, the combination of a pair ofcushioned supports extending transversely of the article and located onopposite sides of the center thereof, and in different horizontalplanes; a resilient shock absorbing device shiftably connected to thelesser of the two supports, and having slotted arms olfset from itssupport; and means to connect the article to the other of said supportsand to the offset arms respectively.

7. The combination with one wall of a shipping container, having spacedbattens secured to the inner surface thereof, the wall being providedwith counterbored, spaced holes therethrough, and the battens providedwith holes of less diameter in register with the larger holes in thewall; cup washers seated in the counterbored holes; headed fasteningmembers passing through the washers and the holes in the battens, andprotruding therebeyond; apertured supports slipped on the protrudingends of the fastening members; cushioning means embracing the fasteningmembers above and below the supports; means to secure the fasteningmembers, cushioning means and supports in assembled relation; and ailoating resilient shock absorber mounted for movement on one of thecushioned supports, and to which the article is connected at one side ofits center.

8. The combination in a packing for articles, with suitably cushionedmembers for supporting the article to be shipped; of a floating shockabsorber interposed between the supporting member and the article, andswiveled at a single point only to the cushioned supporting member, thefloating shock absorber having resilient arms offset relatively to thesupporting member, and to which arms the article is directly connectedwith provisions for relative movement under extreme concussions.

9. The combination with one wall of a shipping container; of pairs ofcushioned fastening members projecting therethrough; cleats aperturednear their outer ends to accommodate the fastening members; means toretain the cleats and cushioned members assembled; and a oatingresilient shock absorber mounted on one of the cleats for movement inone plane relatively thereto, and to which the article to be shipped isconnected for relative movement in a direction at substantial rightangles to the plane of the rst-mentioned movement under extremeconcussions.

10. In a packing for articles, the combination with a container; of acleat having a cushioned support and arranged to extend transversely ofone diametral plane of the article; a shock absorbing device arranged onthe opposite side of the center of the article, and having a swivelledrelation with the container, the shock absorbing device normallyarranged parallel with the cleat and transversely of the same diametralplane of the article; cushioning means interposed between the shockabsorbing device and the container, the shock absorbing device havingarms offset from its body portion, and yieldable in a direction otherthan that in which they swivel; and normally rigid means to connect thearticle and the shock absorbing device with provision for ileXure of thearms relatively to the article under severe concussion.

l1. In an article packing, the combination with a container; of acushioned support extending transversely of the article to one side ofthe center and across one diametral plane of the articles; a shockabsorbing device having a swivelled relation with the container at apoint on the opposite side of the center, and extending across the samediametral plane of the article, the shock absorbing device havingyieldable arms extending oppositely from and offset relatively to thebody portion thereof, to extend transversely of the article; and meansto connect the offset arms and the article for limited bodily movementof either relatively to the other.

12. In an article packing, the combination with a container; of acushioned support extending transversely of the article to one side ofthe center and across one diametral plane of the article; a shockabsorbing device having a swivelled relation with the container at apoint on the opposite side of the center and extending across the samediametral plane of the article, the shock absorbing device havingyieldable arms extending oppositely from and oiset relatively to thebody portion thereof, to extend transversely of the article; and meansto connect the offset arms and the article to enable yielding movementof the article in directions at substantial right angles, with provisionfor limited movement of the offset arms relatively to the article underexcess stress.

13. As a means for securing an article within a container to affordprotection against shocks and concussions, the combination with acontainer; of a cushioned support secured to an inner side thereof, andextending across one diametral plane of the article to one side of thecenter of mass of the article; relatively spaced means to secure thearticle to the cushioned support; a yieldable shock absorbing supportalso extending across said diametral plane of the article on theopposite side of its center of mass, and having a swivelled relationwith the container; and means to connect the opposite ends of theyieldable support and the article.

14:. In a three point article packing, the combination with a container;of a single cushioned support secured to an inner side of the containerand arranged to one side of the center of the article; means to securethe article to the cushioned support at two widely paced points withrelation to the support and the article on opposite sides of onediametral plane of the article; a yieldable shock absorbing supporthaving a swivelled relation with the container, and arranged on theopposite side of the center of the article, the shock absorbing supporthaving offset arms extending across said diametral plane; and means toconnect the respective arms and the article at widely separated points,with provisions for limited relative movement, when yielding in adirection other than that in which the shock absorbing support swivels.

15. In a shipping package, the combination with a container; of a rigidsupport arranged to one side of the center of the article; cushioningmeans for the support; means to secure the support and cushioning meansto the container at widely separated points; other means to connect thearticle at points in spaced relation to the support; a yieldable shockabsorbing device having a pivotal relation with the container, andarranged on the opposite side of the center of the article from therigid support, the shock absorbing device having offset arms extendingin opposite directions beneath the article; and means to connect thearticle and the offset arms, with provision for flexure of the armsrelatively to the article.

16. In a shipping package, the combination With a container; of means tosupport an article to be packed Within the container out of contact withthe Walls thereof, including a pair of cushioned supporting members,arranged to extend transversely of one diametral plane of the article,one of such cushioned supporting members having a pivotal relation withthe container and normally rigid spaced connections with the article,with provision for relative movement between the pivotal supportingmember and the article, under excess concussion, in a direction otherthan that in which the member pivots.

tainer; and normally rigid spaced connections between the respectiveoffset arms and the arti cle, with provision for relative movementbetween the offset arms and the article under excess concussion in adirection other than that in which the member pivots.

RAYMOND S. BEACH,

